Ad-hoc | 12 August 2015 18:48
United Internet AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results
12.08.2015 18:48
Dissemination of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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- Sales up 27.2% to EUR 1.823 billion
- EBITDA grows 47.9% to EUR 351.3 million, EBIT up 25.2% to EUR 242.3
million
- EPS improves 28.8% to EUR 0.85; EPS before PPA up 36.8% to EUR 0.93
- 2015 guidance: contract growth upgraded to approx. 880,000, while sales
and earnings forecasts remain unchanged
Montabaur, August 12, 2015. United Internet AG continued its growth
trajectory in the first half of 2015. The company once again posted strong
improvements in customer contract figures, sales, and key earnings ratios.
Development of the Group
In the first six months of 2015, United Internet once again invested
heavily in new customer relationships. As a result, the number of fee-based
customer contracts was raised by 430,000 in the first half of 2015 to 15.21
million. This customer growth was driven by the Access segment.
Thanks to the further strong year-on-year rise in customer figures - as
well as the consolidation of Versatel GmbH, acquired on October 1, 2014 -
consolidated sales set a new record figure of EUR 1.823 billion,
corresponding to year-on-year growth of 27.2%.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)
rose by 47.9%, from EUR 237.6 million to EUR 351.3 million. This figure
includes one-off income of
EUR 5.6 million from the sale of shares in the Goldbach Group.
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased by 25.2%, from EUR
193.5 million to EUR 242.3 million. Earnings per share (EPS) improved by
28.8%, from EUR 0.66 last year to EUR 0.85. Before amortization from
purchase price allocations (PPA), which mainly relate to the Versatel
acquisition, EPS rose by 36.8%, from EUR 0.68 to EUR 0.93.
Group development (in EUR million) H1 2014 H1 2015 Change
Sales 1,433.6 1,823.4 + 27.2%
EBITDA 237.6 351.3 + 47.9%
EBIT 193.5 242.3 + 25.2%
EPS (in EUR) 0.66 0.85 + 28.8%
EPS before PPA (in EUR) 0.68 0.93 + 36.8%
Outlook
With the figures achieved for sales and earnings in the first half of 2015,
United Internet AG is well on track to meet its targets. Against the
backdrop of strong customer growth in the first six months, the company is
raising its full-year guidance for 2015 and now expects fee-based customer
contracts to grow by 880,000 (previous forecast: approx. 800,000). This
additional customer growth is expected to come from the Access segment
(Mobile Internet). In the Applications segment, the company plans to
conclude its acquisition of home.pl in the second half of the year and
begin examining the possibility of an IPO for its Business Applications. In
addition, United Internet signed an agreement at the end of June to sell
shares in virtual minds AG to the ProSiebenSat.1 Group and thus reduce its
stake from 48.65% to 25.10%. Subject to anti-trust approval, United
Internet expects proceeds of EUR 13.4 million (EBITDA-effective: EUR 8.0
million) from this share sale. United Internet can confirm its EBITDA
guidance for the full year with growth of around 40% (prior year: EUR 551.5
million) and continues to expect an increase in sales of approximately 20%.
Contact
Maika-Alexander Stangenberg
Head of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs
United Internet AG
Elgendorfer Straße 57
56410 Montabaur
Germany
Tel: 02602/96-1616
Fax: 02602/96-1013
E-mail: presse@united-internet.de
Internet: www.united-internet.de
12.08.2015 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de
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Language: English
Company: United Internet AG
Elgendorfer Straße 57
56410 Montabaur
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)2602 / 96 - 1100
Fax: +49 (0)2602 / 96 - 1013
E-mail: info@united-internet.de
Internet: www.united-internet.de
ISIN: DE0005089031
WKN: 508903
Indices: TecDAX
Listed: Regulated Market in Berlin, Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Regulated Unofficial Market in Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover,
Munich, Stuttgart
End of Announcement DGAP News-Service
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